Ireland 2025 – Last two days on The Dingle Way – September 14 & 15
On the last two days of our hike (Days 7 & 8 on The Way), we enjoyed some shorter hiking days with 10 miles on Day 7 (some did hike over 16 miles on this day) and 6 miles on Day 8. On both days, we did a lot of “Beach Hiking” and had to cross several streams that flowed from the hills down to the beach. It was fascinating to watch my fellow hikers decide how to cross each of these. Some just went right through and did not mind that their hiking boots got wet. Some took their boots off. Lizzy did this a few times. And when possible, some hopped from rock to rock to get across.
On Day 7 (Cloghane to Fahamore) we hiked a 7-mile beach that was stunning. Reaching the end of the 7-mile strand, we got off of the beach and stopped for a break at Spillane’s pub, where the locals were celebrating the pub’s 150th anniversary of existence – pretty darn cool! Our abode for the night, Harbour House Bed & Breakfast, is located at the tip of a small peninsula that juts out from the south-west coast of Ireland. The views were stunning! We went back to Spillane’s for a lovely evening meal with great fellowship.
On our last day, we hiked from Castlegregory to Camp, with a transfer to Tralee and then to Dublin. It was a busy day. A lot of this day’s hike was also spent walking on beach. When we arrived in Camp, we loaded up on coffees and pastries at an amazing bakery. The large coconut macaroons were divine. It was a good place to celebrate our completion of our hike on The Dingle Way.
When we arrived in Dublin, we all met at the Hawksmoor Steak House for our farewell dinner. The Hawksmoor Steak House is the best-known steakhouse chain in the British Isles. I had eaten at a Hawksmoor Steak house in Manchester, England during a trip to Great Britain with my three sons. I remember the date well because it was Carter’s 30th Birthday! And on this night, we also celebrated a birthday for one of our fellow hikers, Ronda! And I can safely say that our evening at Hawksmoor in Dublin was very memorable. Thank goodness we had a private room – because we were loud!
When I woke up on the last morning to pack, it seemed strange to be putting things in my backpack to take on the plane instead of packing for the trail. Hiking 110 miles in eight days over very rough terrain, and sometimes in very muddy conditions in inclement weather, is not for the faint of heart. Elizabeth laughingly said as we were packing that we are a little crazy to do this as a VACATION. Despite this and living out of our suitcases each day, I already miss the camaraderie of the trail. I am already looking forward to seeing this group again in two years.
I know I have said this before, and I will say it again. I love travel. I love travel because I get to see new landscapes, and I get to learn the history and culture of an area in a way that sticks with you because it becomes visceral. But most of all, I love the people – the people that are local and the people I travel with. My friend Pete and I say this all of the time about our Backroads Trips – what makes those trips special are not the lodging, the food or incredible scenery – but our fellow travelers that we meet on those trips. I love the fellowship that develops when travelling with others. There is a reason that the first movie of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy is called “The Fellowship of the Ring.” The movie is basically a long hike!
While riding the bus from Tralee to Dublin, I took the extra time to write a limerick (kind of) that I shared with the group at dinner. So here are the last four versus of my 21-verse limerick, which is called “The Merry Dingle Soles”. The title comes from our fellow hiker Mary, who came up with the group name for this excursion. Just as a reference point, our group name while hiking in Montenegro and Croatia two years ago was “The Adriatic Adventurers”.
Today I saw a sign
During our roam
Of a dancing Hog
On a stepping stone
And I think of us
As 16 Happy Hogs
Eating our way through Dingle
And Dancing in the bogs
So, we ate like pigs
Not on a run
Doing a jig
And Having so much fun
I will miss my friends
And the time we had together
But will always treasure
The memories that last forever